State lawmakers will begin crafting next year’s capital budget Wednesday morning
The Joint Bond Bill Committee will consider Gov. Jack Markell’s (D) $385.8 million proposal, with much of that going toward state capital projects.
As it stands, only $139 million will go toward road projects.
Senate Republicans have stalled a bill that would raise nearly 24 million dollars through a package of tax and fee hikes at the DMV, which would go straight to infrastructure spending.
DelDOT Secretary Jennifer Cohan says she’s still optimistic that the bill will be passed due to the 33 million dollar windfall projected by the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC) Monday.
“We’ve still got plenty of time in the legislative world between now and the end of the year and I think, honestly, some of the legislators were waiting to hear how this DEFAC meeting turned out, so I think we’re in a little bit better shape.”
Wednesday's Bond Bill Committee hearing begins at 9 a.m. at Legislative Hall.
The Joint Finance Committee will meet to finalize the fiscal year 2016 operating budget next week.